Tag Archives: Event Planning NYC

How to Stop Your Party From Going Haywire

My Mom loves to tell the story of the day she got married. She had planned for the perfect wedding but after rain, catering mishaps and even a very important person in her life telling her that they didn’t approve who she was marrying, because of religious differences, everything seemed to be falling apart; however, my mother told herself “nothing will ruin this day” and ignored it all.

When we host a party that does not go as we planned we ask ourselves, “Why me, why my party?” What we don’t realize at the time is that something is bound to go wrong. The more you plan for your party the greater your expectations are for how it will turn out; you expect your party to turn out exactly how you picture. With higher standards in mind, when something small goes awry, it has a larger impact on how we view our party than it should. We see the party running off track; however, all the guests are perfectly content.

An easy way to solve this issue is taking a quick survey or judging the conversations in the room. If you, as the host, ask a guest “how are you enjoying everything?” your guests will appreciate your taking time to speak with them and you will also gather key information. Look for tone in their answer rather than the answer itself because guests are inclined to give you a positive response; no one will tell you “this party is going terribly”.

The truth is that guests don’t have expectations of your party in mind until after they are there, at the very least their threshold for a good party is a lot lower than yours. While you may see your party as going terribly, they may see that it is running smoothly. The pasta didn’t come with your catering even though you made it explicitly clear what you had ordered? Your guests do not know that, just work around it! Honestly, the guests usually could care less about the things you see as problems. Further, these flaws may actually be enhancing the experience and may be a primetime to make memories. Be spontaneous! Oh, it is raining during your wedding? Why don’t you dance in the rain, I am sure that it will make for a great memory to put in your photo-book.

At this point you may be thinking that the title is misleading, but it’s not. The solution to stopping your party from going haywire is to expect things to go wrong. Once you start seeing flaws in the party, it will lead into a downward spiral where everything seems to be going poorly. However, if you are not satisfied, here are some tips to fix common mishaps:

I. Rain: It is very easy to plan and book around the weather if you are planning a party a week or two in advance. Parties that require long term planning cannot do this. In these scenarios be sure to notify your guests of the weather as soon as you can . An easy solution is to move your party inside if it is outdoors. You can also set up tents and umbrellas to avoid everyone from getting wet. With the accuracy of weather forecasts in modern times rain should be pretty easy to work around.

II. Important Guest is Late: If someone important to your party is late, your guests may be growing impatient. An easy solution is to distract them. Tell jokes or a funny story about the guest being late in the past. Survey the audience, ask them to tell jokes, play a game, there are so many options! The key is just to be prepared when the moment comes because being spontaneous may sound easy but can be very hard for some people . Therefore, planning ahead with some activities that could help pass time is a key.

III. Food Mishaps: these scenarios are why it is so important to have a backup plan and to be in contact with your catering constantly leading up to your event. It will be hard to find a backup for good quality food if something goes wrong. If the food was mis-delivered or destroyed in some fashion, the catering you use will usually provide a backup, but don’t count on it. If your food never shows up, or they are not able to provide a backup, you need a plan. Have somewhere in mind that will be able to provide food on the spot (although not very luxurious pizza is always a decent option). A way to avoid this entire scenario is to confirm with the food service repeatedly before your party, especially a week in advance and the morning of. If an un-replaceable item is destroyed, say a wedding cake, it may seem like a big deal but the faster you move on the less likely it is to ruin your day. Your guests won’t care if you serve them backup deserts and it is sure to make its place in the memory books.

IV. Silence: This is one of the scariest scenarios, if no one is mingling all eyes are on the host. This scenario is rare and usually only occurs when your guests have some hostility between them or a crowd of introverts. It becomes your job to spark conversation and introduce people. Meeting people is always the hardest part, talking with them after is the easy . If your guests are hostile toward one another try to do something to to draw their attention away from that hostility. Some of the techniques from part II should do the trick or introduce them to other guests at the party.

What do you think? Would you handle these situations in the same way? If you have any other inquiries about party mishaps please let me know below!

Secret Summer

Farm-to-table tailored cocktails, professional dancers and invigorating music all in the concrete jungle? Once a year Secret Summer provides this unparalleled experience; if you are in the city you need to go!

I’ve had a lot of cocktails what is so special about the cocktails at secret summer?I promise you have never had cocktails like these (if you have not attended Secret Summer the past). The cocktails are carefully crafted from freshly collected ingredients, harvested from New York City’s own Farm One. These unique cocktails are crafted by expert mixologists from RAPT who have spent most of their lives in the kitchen as chefs. They are bringing their talent to craft you your perfect drink. Trust me when I say the more you drink the better the drinks begin to taste.

But I don’t like bespoke cocktails should I still attend?

Not a concern. If you are not into cocktails but are still looking to get your booze on the event hosts a Giant Beer Pong game played with full-size kick balls. This crazy spin off to a classic party game will be sure to test your skills but also entertain for hours.

Where is the event hosted?

The event is hosted at the Foundry in Long Island City. The Foundry has a stunning courtyard where a lot of the events take place, it is rare to see such a vibrant setting in a major City. Photos of the foundry can be found below.

What about food?

Secret Summer has you covered. Delicately crafted snacks crafted by RAPT are constantly in circulation. However, if you are looking for a more filling meal, Secret Summer hosts the best food trucks in New York City. In the past the event has hosted everything from the Morris Food Truck, serving organic grass fed grilled items, to the Van Leeuwen Truck, serving Artisan Ice Cream.

And Entertainment?

Here is where we are going to blow your mind. The event hosts face painters, tattoos artists, photo booths, professional musicians, dazzling dancers, beautiful women and handsome men. At the 2015 event, which had a Midsummer Night’s Dream theme, actors from the Shrunken Shakespeare Company could be found all around the venue, assuring a constant stream of entertainment. Trust me when I say, leave the entertainment to us, you will not be let down.

Be sure to follow HighLife Productions on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on Secret Summer 2017 and other future parties and events!

Sunday afternoon brought us a taste of what we love about summer. Between the beauty of the outdoors, refreshing cocktails, fresh food, a little theater, and some good company, the only place to be absorbing all of this goodness was at the Foundry in Long Island City. Secret Summer is a brand new festival, designed to highlight the wonder of theatrical art as accompanied by class and style. The dress code was “Summer Chic,” so the outfits were light, fun, free and flowing, which fit right into the Midsummer Night’s Dream theme of the party. HighLife Productions, Rapt Affairs and The Foundry teamed up to create an absolutely unforgettable experience in the mystically decorated venue. Décor by Patina did a great job of adding culture and richness to the already alluring space.